Celebrate Community Spirit and Fun at Vancouver Festivals

Throughout the entire year you can join in the spirit and fun of Vancouver festivals which make the most of Vancouver attractions like parks, beaches and mountain tops.

From the ice cold Polar Bear Swim on the first day of each new year...

...to the brightly lit parade of the carol ships in December there are festivals big and small including music, theatre, sporting events and culinary adventures.

There is somethng for everyone so find a geat festival make a date and plan to attend.

Here is a list of some of this year's major festivals.

Vancouver Festivals 2012

Please Note: whyvancouver.com is not involved with any of the festivals we only list information.

January

Polar Bear Swim
...January 1st 2012
Costumed dip in the icy waters of English Bay to start the year

Chinese New Years Parade (Chinatown, Vancouver)
...January 29th 2012
Celebrating the Year of the Dragon

February

Playhouse International Wine Festival
...February 27th–March 4th 2012

March

Vancouver International Dance Festival
...March 2nd-11th 2012
Dance from Vancouver, San Francisco, Montreal, Tokyo and Toronto

CelticFest Vancouver
...March 14th-18th 2012

St. Patrick's Day Parade
...March 18th 2012 (downtown Vancouver)

April

Vancouver Sun Run
...April 15th 2012
Largest 10Km run in North America (attracts 50,000 participants)

May

Chinatown Night Market
...every weekend in Chinatown Vancouver from the middle of May until the beginning of September

International Childrens Festival
...May 28th-June 3rd 2012 at Vanier Park

Bard on the Beach
...May 31st–September 22nd 2012
Shakespeare festival on the beach of Vanier Park

June

Eat Vancouver
...June 1st, 2nd, 3rd 2012

Dragon Boat Festival
...June 15th, 16th, 17th 2012

July

Vancouver Folk Music Festival
...July 13th-15th 2012
Folk, blues, world music plus childrens' activities food and crafts

Celebration of Light (fireworks festival)
...July 28th 2012 (tentative)
International fireworks competition on the waters of English Bay

Caribbean Days Festival
…July 28th, 29th
Parade, food and music at Waterfront Park in North Vancouver

Vancouver Gay Pride Parade
...2012 dates tba
Parade, concerts, parties, boat cruises

August

Blueberry Festival
...August 2012 in Cloverdale (date tba)

PNE (Pacific National Exhibition
…August 18th –September 3rd 2012
Live shows, exhibits, attractions, midway games and rides

September

Vancouver International Fringe Festival
…September 19th-23rd 2012
Festival of eclectic theatre offering performed at venues on Granville Island

Harvest Festival at Capilano Suspension Bridge
…September 29th 2012
Special activities and musical entertainment

October

Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival
…October 16th-21st 2012
Spoken word performances

November

Hopscotch Festival
...November 16th-20th 2012
Learn about, sip and taste scotch, whisky and beer

December

Bright Nights in Stanley Park
Annual Christmas event in Stanley Park

Carol Ship Festival
Cruises on boats decorated with lights and shore-side celebrations throughout the holiday season

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Things To Do	Sights To See	Places To Go

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